To the editor: I read your coverage on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Portsmouth and I am so grateful that the community came out in droves to support this cause for local families. I wanted to express my gratitude to the Alzheimer’s Association for hosting such an incredible event and to Home Instead Senior Care who has been providing care for my mom for the past several years.

My mom, Maxine was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s several years ago — she was only fifty years old. Today, she is 59 and the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s are taking their toll. She no longer speaks and can’t remember how to do even simple things, but she is well taken care of, thanks to my Dad, Richard and the caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care.

My Dad first noticed changes in my Mom’s behavior 9 years ago. She was formerly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few years ago and the decline has been quite rapid. My Mom has to have someone with her at all times now so caregivers from Home Instead come in every weekday to help care for my Mom while my Dad and I are at work.

Before Alzheimer’s, my Mom did everything she could to care for her family. I am an only child and she really was a wonderful, attentive Mom who instilled the importance of family in me. That is why every weekend I make the trek from Watertown, Massachusetts to Stratham to help take care of my Mom and give my Dad a bit of respite.

The hardest thing is watching how the disease has progressed so rapidly. At first, when my Mom was more aware of what was happening, she would weep. She was confused as to why she could no longer do things she used to and I could feel her frustration. My Mom still knows who I am, but her memory is deteriorating quickly so I don’t know how much longer this will last.

It was exciting to be part of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s because it pulls the community together to work toward a positive goal so that other families may not have to go through what we’ve been through. I just wanted to thank the Alzheimer’s Association, our caregivers from Home Instead and all of my friends, family and co-workers who supported me for the walk. You have all made our life a little easier and my Dad and I are truly grateful for your support.

Natalie and Richard Guillemette

Stratham

Echoes of Korea

To the editor: Thoughts and memories long suppressed sometimes leak out and stain my face. I don’t know why, after so long, these thoughts, these searing pictures come unbidden from some dark place to intrude upon me now.

I have not been able to honestly deal with them. They briefly overwhelm me, I suck it up, get strong, deny them their hold on me and move on. I leave them undiminished, unchallenged, to come back later with all their power and fury. I guess I don’t deal with them, indeed haven’t for all these years, because I know I probably can’t win against them.

But perhaps equally important, if in “dealing” with them, I make them disappear, or diminish their meaning, I will dishonor the sacrifice of those who died with me holding their torn and broken bodies. So many took so long to die, with me holding onto a stump of an arm or leg, thrashing about, a glistening clump of instruments staunching arterial blood. I guess it may be because it took them so long to die and perhaps because they were often awake, we became friends.

And I stayed with them while they died. And I just cannot seem to either forget them, or deal with it. Truth to tell, I don’t think I am worthy of forgetting what they did, or how they died.

Or how long it took, how goddamned long it took.

Robert Miles

Durham

Veterans Day

To the editor: We are six months past the remembrance of Memorial Day. Flags set out in May have new snow for a new winter. We have new elections and a new Veterans Day comes Sunday. I found myself wondering what “percentage” we are as a people now that all the ballots are counted and the holidays begin. I suddenly remembered an article I read In high school when World War II had been won for just ten years.

It was a train trip through Appalachia — all the narrow hollows of West Virginia switchbacks and slow going. The train came around a bend to a small garden and a tarpaper shack hard against the tracks. Nothing special there. And a man sat out on the porch scratching at the dirt with a long-handled hoe- too lazy to get off the porch and work.

That view changed when the train turned the corner to show the double amputee and the American flag hung across the tarpaper wall. What stoic hope and trust for our country lies down among the “47 percent”. Theodore Roosevelt said do all you can, with what you have, where you are, while you are here. Veterans Day will be observed in Milton on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. at Veteran’s Park. Come, while you are here and democracy works.

Larry Brown

Milton

Some random observations

To the editor: Why do so few motorists use required turn signals? Though you may know where you are and where you’re going the rest of the motoring public does not.

Why do parents of elementary school age children allow them to ride in the front seat of a dual front air bag equipped vehicle? One, it’s unlawful and two, possibly life threatening to the passenger in the event of an accident.

To the people who leave their dogs messes on sidewalks or in peoples yards, really, you couldn’t take a couple seconds to clean it up?

Has this election cycle been the worst for negativity?

The next verifiable true fact to come out of a politician’s mouth will be the first.

There is no wrong vote. The only wrong is not voting. If you so decide not to vote, you lose any/all right to complain!!

Perform a random act of kindness, it costs nothing and is in and of itself rewarding.

Five Guys burgers & fries rock!!

Appreciate family and friends, even if they are just Facebook friends.

Gangnam Style, fun or funny?

Favorite pig out holiday, Thanksgiving!!

Candlepin Bowling versus Ten Pin?

Movie that still cracks me up with all it’s sight gags, “Top Secret”.

Live long & prosper and be excellent to each other!!

Fred Ruonala

Dover

Piling up

To the editor: Foster’s bemoans coverups of US crimes and atrocities (“Benghazi: A warning to be heeded,” editorial, Oct. 31). A number of serious examples were listed, including the My Lai Massacre, Watergate, and questions about WMD in Iraq. However, the editorial neglected to include the greatest atrocity of them all, the terror events of 9-11-01, used by elements within our government to justify a number of wars in oil-rich countries of the Middle East.

While stacks of books mount up showing that the events of 9-11 could not possibly have occurred as described in official government reports, that conclusion is generally ignored.

See, for example, the ten scholarly books on this subject written by David Ray Griffin, Ph.D. Griffin has ample prestige as an intellectual and is the founder of process theology.

Also consider the work of Richard Gage, AIA. Gage is the founder of Architects and Engineers for 9-11 Truth, which currently has 1741 degreed and licensed members and 15,729 other supporters.

By contrast, the main arguments for the government’s view have been name-calling and unsubstantiated allegations. Thus, it is vital that we think for ourselves and prosecute the real criminals.

David Diamond

Dover

Thank you

To the editor: As judges of the Barrington Women’s Club annual agility training and dog parade, we would like to thank all who participated.

Thank you to all the dogs and owners who entered the parade. Your efforts made all of you winners. Thank you to the vendors with your dog and family friendly wares.

And thanks to all the members of the Barrington Women’s Club for all their time, energy and money put into this fundraiser event.

To the editor: Sandy is a pleasant name. Instead of Sandy, maybe we could call the tragic hurricane “Head-in-the-Sand.”

It’s not possible to know if Hurricane Head-in-the-Sand was simply a natural tragedy or included some added wallop from human-caused global warming.

We do know, however, that heat-trapping gases in have elevated the temperature in the lower atmosphere. We know the sea level has been rising at an ever-faster rate over the past half-century and that warm water and air powers hurricanes.

Could Hurricane Head-in-the-Sand be a precursor of tragic events to come?

Let’s protect America and the earth by taking leadership in reducing the emission of heat trapping gases and creating an environment more resilient to the both natural and human-caused impacts.

James Barrett

Durham

Research first

To the editor: I am past being sick of the accusations made against the government surrounding the Benghzi attack. Especially since they are being made by people who know nothing about what happened.

I ask — how many of you have ever been in the military, and stationed overseas? It is easier said than done to just call up an airstrike, and / or supporting ground troops in a matter of minutes/hours — and depending on the situation, location, and alert status of the military forces involved, who can be sent, and in what period of time.

How many of our compounds overseas have been attacked in the last 20 years? Too many, and hundreds of our men and women lost. Maybe you would prefer that we abandon all contact with foreign countries. Probably not a good idea.

Please, before you go off the handle with no knowledge of something, do what you can to research the facts.

Arthur Bradbury

Lee

Concerned

To the editor: I am deeply concerned to learn that Atlantic menhaden, the most important fish in the marine food web, has declined by 90 percent over the past 25 years. Atlantic menhaden play an important role in the Atlantic Coast ecosystem as a critical food source for marine wildlife, such as marine mammals and birds that we enjoy observing, and for fish that we like to eat, such as striped bass and bluefish. Atlantic menhaden are filter feeders and help keep our water clean. I urge the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to adopt the most stringent regulations to help restore the menhaden fishery. The continued high rate of menhaden fishing is likely to have disastrous consequences on our short and cherished New Hampshire coastal environment.

Ashley Rozumek

Hampton

About fish

To the editor: I never heard of a fish called Atlantic menhaden until a few weeks ago. Have you? Probably not, although perhaps you’re familiar with the fish’s other names: bunker, pogy, and mossbunker. I was surprised to learn they’re the most important fish in our Atlantic Ocean and we need to work fast to bring back the population and here is why.

Did you know that the Atlantic menhaden act as vacuum cleaners of our coastal waters, filtering up to four gallons of water a minute to extract phytoplankton (algae and other tiny plants). They are also a critical food source for many of our fish like striped bass, and blue fish. The loss of the Atlantic menhaden is already taking a toll on many of our fish and marine mammals. These little fish have a big impact on our state’s economy. Thousands of businesses rely on the predatory fish and marine animals that depend on menhaden as a staple food. Saltwater fishing, whale watching and bird watching generate hundreds of millions of dollars per year on the East Coast.

I am asking for readers and our Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to support the following:

— Implementation of a coastwide annual catch limit

— A menhaden harvest reduction of 50% from recent catch

— Immediate action to rebuild the menhaden resource.

— Adoption of new spawning biomass reference points.

Finally, I have to give kudos to The Pew Environment group who has made me and others aware of what is happening to our Atlantic Ocean ecosystem and for actively pursuing a science-based rebuilding plan that would work with your support.

Leslie F. Trudeau

Portsmouth

Tip of the hat

To the editor: This past Saturday night my son Cody Morissette and his Exeter 7th grade football team played Dover at Dover High School. Cody was injured and ended up getting surgery the next day down in Boston. The sportsmanship and class that was displayed by the Dover parents, players, fan’s and especially coaches is exactly what youth sports should be all about. It didn’t stop there. I received two separate phone calls from different Dover coaches over the following days. My family appreciates the compassion and support. It was very touching. Dover should be proud of their program and coaches that work with these athletes. We tip our hat to you.

David Morissette

Exeter

Storm report

To the editor: I would like to thank the rescue members who have been out for the past 3 days responding to these emergency calls and checking on our neighbors who have medical conditions. These men and women have left their families to go check on others and helped us make sure that no one got hurt during the storm. It is hard to leave your family at home during these large storms not knowing if they are safe at home. Dozens of families throughout every corner of the town was checked on. The responders helped bring water to people who were out of drinking water and helped check on people running generators to make sure they were safe. Other rescue members sat at the Emergency Operations Center and ran the communications center during the storm and following days of cleanup.

Once again, we used our Facebook site and email to keep residents aware of the dangerous situations going on during the storm, and with hourly updates following the storm. During the past three days, we have averaged over 2,000 hits to our sites. Residents seemed to really appreciate the updates and knew that they could keep up to date while watching our site.

These storms show us how well we have become accustomed to working together to make sure the residents are safe. Lebanon Emergency Management Director Tom Cravens and his staff did a wonderful job leading the operation. Lebanon Road Commissioner Larry Torno and the road crews spent all day Monday preparing drains and ditches for the rain and then all night and overnight responding to down trees. They have spent the past few days picking up debris and clearing the roads of fallen trees. All three Selectmen kept making sure the responders had what they needed and were there to support the responders. Lebanon Fire crews responded to live wires down and secured the area until CMP crews could get there to mitigate the situations. Lebanon Rescue crews also assisted with this, responded to medical emergencies and did the well-being checks on dozens of families. The utility workers from CMP, Metrocast, tree companies and more have been amazing. We watched the number of power outages in town go from about 75% of homes without power to nearly 50 at this time. It was great to have them stop at the station and rest a little in between large shifts of restoring utilities. Trooper Fenderson of the State Police stopped by during the height of the storm to check on the responders at the EOC and offered to assist in anyway. It was a great effort by all. These storms have become more and more common where we are having large scale deployments, but due to planning and training, we have come through these storms very well.

On behalf of all the volunteers with Lebanon Rescue, we want to thank the residents for their support, stopping in to check on responders or dropping off warm food for the responders. Job well done to everyone.